The route of the 2012 Dakar Rally traverses the beautiful extremes of northern Chile's Atacama Desert, offering drivers stunning views of the desert backcountry as they cross sand dunes and ancient pack routes between Copiapó and Arica.

The 2011 Dakar Rally wasn't just the wildest, most extreme endurance automobile race of the year - it was also the "greenest" in the event's history, with solar powered electricity, recycling and biodegradable tableware.

Details about the fourth version of Dakar South America, one of Chile’s most important sporting events, were revealed in Paris on Tuesday, November 8.